Motorcycle height a problem?

[Gone Burger]

The Gladius was made for the women market........surely?

Sat on the bike at a training day. Felt like a great weight for a light gal like me (under 50kg) but I could barely touch the ground. Was on the very very tips on my toes and struggled to keep it upright as a result. I'm 5ft 4" so also a short ass.

Have had a few problems with the heights on many bikes that I have sat on when trying to decide what to upgrade to. A lot of people told me that I would get used to only having my toes on the ground, but I just didn't trust that on gravel, or trying to shift weight at the lights etc that I had enough of my feet on the ground.

Ended up buying a m50 cruiser. Very low to the ground which is awesome for me. Still, I am on my toes when trying to move its weight forward or back from stationery, and tried it on my gravel drive the other day. Had to get off an move it as I needed more than my toes to get the weight actually moving. Am getting used to it though, and its no issue when moving. Just gotta get used to the slow moving stuff. Don't think they get much lower than this though

Give everything a go. Good to find something a little lower. Plenty out there of all different styles. But yes, can relate to your problem on this one.

Guess I will never "grow up"

[hellokitty]

Katiepie - you got a nice bike!!!!!!!!!! Bloody heavy for a little one like you though? - I mean that in the nicest possible way - I weigh heaps more than you, and that is one big bike - you must look so cool on it though! When I need to move my bike, I get on it and walk around, or if I am trying to move it uphill, I turn it on and ride it - too damn heavy to stand next to it and push it!

[jack_hamma]

I find height isn't a problem when laying down...

my 2c worth

The Ducati monster has a low seat height of 800mm, which can be wind down to about 790ish using the ride height adjustor........... the Ducati ST's starts at 820mm.. some usless info

So what do you think is the best bike to recommend for the smaller rider?

The key criteria is that it's got to be something that is:
A. Low
B. Light
C. Over 250cc

And if you want something that isn't a cruiser even more of a challenge....

Isn't 800mm pretty low for a seat and with at 170kg for the 803cc monster worth a look?

[Thani-B]

that's true. also happens to be something that every dealer i have visited has failed to mention, yet i think it's critical if you are particularly light. all i seem to get is "that's a bit big for you isn't it" and a gentle push in the direction of a pink gladius.

in fact, for the dealers out there: i would have been more inclined, not less, to buy my gixxer if my attention was drawn to the fact that there are impressive degrees of adjustment available without having to pay for a new shock.

Not putting down what you bought Rie, it is a beautiful bike, but did you ever take a Gladius for a test ride?
Before I got my ER6n I took a few bikes out for a ride including a SV650, Bandit 600, GSXr 750, VFR400, Gladius.. can't remember what else. But out of all of them I liked the gladius the best. It was only money that stopped me from getting one. And I'm not too much taller than you, and the same weight.

[rie]

Not putting down what you bought Rie, it is a beautiful bike, but did you ever take a Gladius for a test ride?
Before I got my ER6n I took a few bikes out for a ride including a SV650, Bandit 600, GSXr 750, VFR400, Gladius.. can't remember what else. But out of all of them I liked the gladius the best. It was only money that stopped me from getting one. And I'm not too much taller than you, and the same weight.

Hey,

I wasn't saying anything about the desirability of gladius vs. anything else. my basic point is that nobody should tell you to get something because you're smaller than the average. in fact, it's your money so you have the right to buy whatever you want. my qualm is with being singlemindedly told to buy gladius because i wouldn't "fit anything else." rubbish.

[hellokitty]

People have funny ideas about others, big, small, teeny or chubby, and the thing that bugs me is they want to make you fit into what they think you should be.......
I met a really cool lady, really pretty and slim who rides the huuuugest cruiser - I thought she was awesome - I would be way too scared to ride something that big.
My husband was looking at bikes the other week, and it was "that bike is too small for a big guy blah blah crap"
Postive comments from random strangers are welcome - negative thoughts you can keep to yourself!

This is aimed at no one here just me having a moan. If you think if you can handle it buy it!!!!! Or if you are like me and are scared of being on tiptoes on a heavy bike, then look around......
I was keen on a Ducati monster and I have short legs and was flat footed on it - even a big monster........ but I am a cruiser girl - got a bad back and not up to riding a sports bike dammit.

[Thani-B]

Hey,

I wasn't saying anything about the desirability of gladius vs. anything else. my basic point is that nobody should tell you to get something because you're smaller than the average. in fact, it's your money so you have the right to buy whatever you want. my qualm is with being singlemindedly told to buy gladius because i wouldn't "fit anything else." rubbish.

Yeah I understand that. I didn't let anyone tell me what I could and couldn't ride, heck, I even took a motard for a blat that I couldn't even touch the ground on. My point is maybe they were pointing you towards the gladius because it is a pretty perfect bike for someone smaller, and it would help to gain confidence on a bigger, heavier bike before upgrading to something else.

[R-Soul]

Everyone is different. There is NO ONE bike to recommend. I don't like cruisers, I don't want a full-on sports bike, I've done the adventure bike, I've done the commuter bike (yeah, under 250cc). There is no bike at the moment that sets my soul on fire, so I'm sticking with my "learner" bike.

Yes, when you're laying down, height isn't an issue, but when you go pick up the bike, that's when it is an issue Weight could be an issue on the lay-down, but definitely on the pick up of the bike hehehe

I'm less likely to drop my small bikes than my bigger ones, so I'll stick to the small ones. I have dropped my DRZ250, DR650, but I haven't dropped the 250 ninja and didn't drop the scorpioz. The scorpioz did get knocked over, the GS500 would fall at the drop of a hat when parked.

The GSXF750 was an okay size for me, but damned heavy. The SV650 is an okay size for me, except the arm reach. Weight is only an issue when manoeuvring, not when moving, but you've got to move the bike around sometimes to get moving, so it is a consideration.

I looked at the list you'd made, the only two bikes I'd even consider are the Gladius (only because it comes in pink - not) and the 500 kawasaki, but neither will be happening.

Stefan Merriman made a comment years ago that height isn't an issue, your feet should be on the pegs - he is a short-arse. That's true for riders at that level, but for those of us not so confident and competent, it is an issue.

Guys also generally have more brute-force. I remember riding behind someone, he started getting the corner wrong, so put his foot down and forced the bike to where it needed to go. (off-road). I looked at that and thought that it would've ended in tears if I were to do that. It didn't look pretty, it wasn't huge skills, it was just sheer brute force.

My 10c on the matter (only cause we don't have 1, 2 or 5c).
Oh, I'm about 5'3" and have had my full licence for many years (but only ridden road for about 6 - scooters don't count).

And are you a chick?

[rachprice]

Not forgetting us taller types have the opposite issue, extra join in legs to get knees to fit, stop knuckles dragging on the ground etc

Heh. 6' 1" and 67kg (light enough to be race material, but much too tall sadly ). A good part of the reason I ride a Hyosung instead of, say, a Ninja. Gotta fit those legs somewhere.

I can say with certainty that having that bit more sure-footedness has been the only thing saving me from a slow-speed/no-speed drop a few times. As you get more experienced, you stop getting into those dodgy situations. I would imagine it would be a bit more difficult to start out on a bike where you're tip-toeing.

Im not all that tall but have super long legs so I find I can get cramped sometimes, my RGV was probably the worst, would like to have a go on the 125GP bikes but think my legs would be a hindrance there

You are not too tall for racing, how tall is Andrew Stroud?

[Dutchee]

And are you a chick?

I'm a female, but a bit old to be classed as a chick.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Im not all that tall but have super long legs so I find I can get cramped sometimes, my RGV was probably the worst, would like to have a go on the 125GP bikes but think my legs would be a hindrance there

You are not too tall for racing, how tall is Andrew Stroud?

mate of mine is 6 ft and skinny, he folds himself up like a praying mantis to fit on his RS125.....

[R-Soul]

I'm a female, but a bit old to be classed as a chick.

so... a dame.. but your profile doesn't show anything, so I had to ask.

[bittertwistedcute]

Now there's visual - LOL nice quote

mate of mine is 6 ft and skinny, he folds himself up like a praying mantis to fit on his RS125.....

[Ratti]

Women do have proportionally longer legs than men.
I know how tall Bald Eagle is, at nearly 6'4" he is a long streak to fold into any space! I'm nearly 6foot tall and have unusually long legs even for a woman. SO just imagine my problem? The ground is always close enough, mostly its in the seats of bikes. I generally need to shove back about 2-3 inches to get space for my legs. But that leaves me 2-3 inches short of a comfortable reach to the handlbars cos I have woman-length arms.
What we actually need is a range of bikes that cater for
longer legs,
shorter arm
that come in a variety of frame heights

[Maha]

Any feamle will fit most Harleys.